Freetown voters reject Aquinnah casino proposal by a wide margin

Voters resoundingly rejected a nonbinding referendum, which could have potentially made the town a host community to a $167 million resort casino off Route 140. The referendum item received 954 “no” votes and 308 “yes” votes for a casino operated by the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head Aquinnah, according to the unofficial results.

By Jeffrey D. Wagner

The Taunton Daily Gazette, Taunton, MA

By Jeffrey D. Wagner

Posted May. 30, 2012 at 12:01 AM
Updated May 30, 2012 at 5:25 PM

By Jeffrey D. Wagner

Posted May. 30, 2012 at 12:01 AM
Updated May 30, 2012 at 5:25 PM

FREETOWN

» Social News

Voters resoundingly rejected a nonbinding referendum, which could have potentially made the town a host community to a $167 million resort casino off Route 140.

The referendum item received 954 “no” votes and 308 “yes” votes for a casino operated by the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head Aquinnah, according to the unofficial results. About 22 percent of registered voters — 1,262 residents — cast a ballot. About 561 were from Precinct 3, which would be located closest to the proposed casino.

Following the vote, Jim McManus, a spokesman for the tribe, stressed that the vote is “nonbinding,” and added that it does not mean the tribe will withdraw all interest in Freetown. The tribe entered into a purchase-and-sales agreement for 500 acres straddling the Freetown-Lakeville line.

When asked if Lakeville is now a frontrunner to become a host community, McManus said Tuesday’s Freetown vote puts Lakeville in a new light.

“We’re just looking forward to Lakeville right now,” he said. Lakeville voters will decide on the casino referendum this Saturday.

McManus said if Lakeville approves it, the tribe will then approach the governor for a compact agreement and then work out an intermunicipal plan with Lakeville. The state has given the tribe until July 31 to complete this work.

McManus said tribal members have not even mentioned Fall River as a possibility for consecutive weeks. He could not confirm whether or not Fall River was still a possibility as a host community.

Freetown Selectmen Chairwoman Jean Fox said she was not surprised by Tuesday’s vote.

“I am not shocked,” Fox said. “This was a fast process, a rapid process and it was full of intangibles.”

She said there were too many unanswered questions and concerns.

Fox said even though “no” votes more than tripled the “yes” votes on Tuesday, residents are still interested in more economic development in town.

She said she was pleased with the turnout, which was much more than the 13 percent of registered voters that came out for the annual Town Election last month.

According to preliminary plans, the tribe had proposed a 145,000-square-foot casino, 150,000-square-foot hotel, a 130,000-square-foot parking garage, 36 table games, and a 150-key hotel. The total acreage would be 500, but only 8 to 10 percent would be developed.

The resort casino would create 900 construction jobs, 1,350 permanent jobs and would have a payroll of $100 million with 85 percent of the revenue expected to stay within the state, according to the slide show from a forum last week.

Tribal spokeswoman Cheryl Andrews-Maltais said the tribe would be a good community partner, and Indian casinos are regulated by federal guidelines, which promote more safeguards against some of the negative casino side effects.

Lakeville voters will weigh in on the matter — at an adjacent location — this Saturday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.